As I started writing this review nine years to the day after the last Nazca bike review I can find on BentRider, I hope I’ll be forgiven for setting aside the first couple of paragraphs to (re)introduce the company.

Nazca are a long-established Dutch manufacturer with a reputation for producing well thought out designs that emphasize handling and flexibility. Almost uniquely they build in steel, rather than aluminum, adding to the appeal of what are already elegant frames. With a strong product line and a top-flight reputation for service, they’re already quite a high profile brand – it sometimes seems like every second bike is a Nazca in this part of the world!

The classic Nazca design, the one you’re most likely to be familiar with, is the Fuego lowracer, which runs a standard 406/559 wheelset. With the dual 700C wheels of the Gaucho 28, Nazca moved into less familiar territory – competing directly with more recent creations from Performer, Optima, Metabike and Challenge in what seems to be the hot trend of the last couple of years amongst European builders in particular.

Perched over those big wheels, the swooping frame of the Gaucho is very striking. Every head will turn. Personally I don’t think the black paint of this example on a computer screen does the quality of the finish any justice (‘apple green’ and ‘fire red’ are my favorites) – but take it from me, the welds are excellent, the quality of the fittings and the way that moving parts mesh is obvious when you get up close in the flesh.

The bold central plate is the pivot for an airshock which gives the bike a highly adjustable setup, from almost fully rigid to seriously plush, and there’s little sensation of bob when you’re cranking hard. You do have to carry a small shock pump if you want to adjust the shock pressure on the fly – up to 300psi which you just won’t get out of an ordinary pump – although I think wanting to do this mid-ride might be a bit of an edge case anyway.

Three suspension position settings are selectable by quick release though, as well as a separate quick release on the seat mount itself – Nazca quote the seat angles as 26-34 degrees and my own attempt at measuring the lowest setting comes up with 25.

This is comparable with the ‘stock’ angle of a Carbent and really quite sufficient to travel at a good pace, especially if you aren’t buying the bike just to race short distances on a velodrome or fixed road course.

While the Gaucho 28 is billed as a racing bike (and has been raced successfully by Peter Haan, amongst others) it’s not a no-limits speed machine, and I think it would be missing the point to try and compare it to M5’s hour record bikes or anything like that. It’s at a distinct disadvantage in terms of weight, of aerodynamics, and rigidity on all counts. If you’re looking for the ultimate in speed at any price, look elsewhere.

Where the Gaucho wins, and wins massively, is in the delivery of the dual 700C platform without any of the usual drawbacks – no stratospheric seat height and tricky handling here. In fact, this bike is solid as a rock whether you’re negotiating a silly MUP entrance at walking speed or descending at 45mph in the dark on the wrong side of the road (as I discovered on PBP).

Although it can feel quite different for the first few minutes, the handling behaviour of this bike has been dialed in to perfection and I find the ride very confidence inspiring. With the assistance of the shock, the Gaucho receives a welcome boost on rougher or looser terrain – it feels more planted than a rigid bike even with narrow 23mm tires, and there’s no question of losing traction on the driving wheel.

The bottom bracket is 7” above the seat, which is a good compromise and contributes a lot to the friendly feel of the bike compared with some rivals which are closer to a foot of delta. You don’t have to look around your knees to check for potholes on the Gaucho!

Tiller steering allows for maximum freedom of movement and reduces the amount of ‘stuff’ you’re pushing through the air, and all at a weight saving. If you prefer open cockpit all the same, Nazca are happy to supply either option, which will doubtless prove popular in the US. I’m not in a position to comment on anything other than the tiller, which I must say is ergonomically excellent (since I managed the ninety hours of Paris-Brest-Paris easily and comfortably, what more can I say?).

For me, the difference between a stick bike and the 700C Gaucho is that I can get my *heel* solidly on the tarmac at stops, instead of scraping to get my big toe down and hoping for the best – a difference like night and day. How important this is to you obviously depends on your height.

Being able to utilize standard 700C components has a few key advantages, quite apart from the oft-repeated dogma that bigger wheels roll better; first, you’ll be able to take advantage of spare tubes, tires, even wheels if necessary if you really break something, so you’re less likely to get stranded on a long solo ride or stuck with baffled mechanics in a shop or on an organized ride. Also, you don’t need to think about gearing solutions at all – you can use every standard upright cassette or chainset exactly as it was intended by the original manufacturer. The gallery includes a shot of the Gaucho fitted with my deep carbon racing rims…

As for speed, the Gaucho delivers in spades on the open road – on a mixed route with reasonable climbing and loaded for multi-day brevet riding I was averaging around 16.5mph (in comparison, the Raptobike manages ~17mph in similar conditions). If you live somewhere seriously hilly the bike would suffer more on the climbs compared with a rigid carbon wonderbike, but then again Scotland isn’t known for being flat…

Relative to all-out racers, there is more flex in the Gaucho when you’re at full power, but nothing that I found annoying even on a 1200km randonee. Similarly, while there’s no doubt the weight of the bike does it few favors (it builds down to around 30lbs), the sprightly ride otherwise belies the scales and it’s likely most of us have plenty of spare weight on our aerobellies we could lose instead.

There’s clearance for tires up to 28mm or so, and unlike other Nazca bikes, the Gaucho doesn’t easily accept fenders (the raceblade type will fit, but not ‘proper’ ones). There’s no obvious option for a rack although you can easily travel with a seat bag or side panniers like Radical’s should the need arise.

Without any real ability to take a heavy load, the Gaucho 28 isn’t targeted at the touring market (for that, you can opt for a regular Gaucho with 24” or 26” wheels), but neither is it targeted at diehard racers by any means. I’ve heard it described as a sort of GT bike – as Nazca themselves say, it allows you “to make long trips at high speed, a recumbent bike to push your limits in speed and distance, without the usual cyclist pains!”

The Gaucho is delivered at three levels of finishing kit: Shimano Tiagra, 105 or Ultegra from €1750 (roughly $2225) to €2695 – European readers add 19% VAT. Other options such as a carbon seat / fork upgrade are available at extra cost – see your local Nazca dealer for details.

Highly recommended if you’d like full-size wheels, super handling and are open to something a little different.

NAZCA GAUCHO 28
Highs – Superbly crafted, big wheels, low seat and great handling
Lows – Not the lightest, the most rigid or the most reclined – and not the cheapest either
MSRP – Starting somewhere over $1750 USD (exc. delivery and any taxes)
More Info – http://www.nazca-ligfietsen.nl/

Dave McCraw lives in Scottland and has his own web site at http://mccraw.co.uk. You can find some very detailed and more technically oriented reviews of several bikes and trikes (including this one) there.